WASHINGTON — With a health care bill at a crossroads, hospitals are near a deal with the White House and a lawmaker to pick up part of the cost of President Barack Obama’s plan for expanded coverage, officials said Monday.

The precise size of any deal was not available, although several days ago, talks were focused in the range of $150 billion to $155 billion over a decade. Officials said that under the emerging deal, hospitals would accept lower-than-anticipated payments under Medicare and Medicaid, the federal health care programs for seniors and the poor.

Any agreement involving Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, and the White House would give fresh momentum to efforts to write bipartisan legislation.